Pizarro parts ways with Bremen

SV Werder Bremen striker Claudio Pizarro has parted ways with the club amicably after an agreement was reached he won't renew his deal with the side.

The 38-year-old has been at Bremen since joining from FC Bayern München in 2015, which was his third spell with the team he first joined in 1999 from Alianza Lima. In total, the forward hit 105 goals for Bremen.

The Peru international managed 195 goals in 430 Bundesliga matches which makes him the league's highest scoring foreign-born player.

Pizarro said of his departure, "It was always a huge honour to wear the Bremen shirt. The club, the city and the fans will always have a special place in my heart. I would have happily played another year for Werder, but I accept the club's decision."

Bremen sporting director Frank Baumann added of the decision to part ways, "We came to a mutual decision during discussions with Claudio. There were several factors that influenced our decision.

"Due to the competition for places in attack and the emergence of several young talents, whose development we don't want to hinder, we took the decision not to extend Claudio's contract. Claudio is a legend and will get the best possible goodbye: his own farewell game at the end of his career."